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Lingzhi mushroom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Língzhī (traditional Chinese: 靈芝; simplified Chinese: 灵芝; Japanese: reishi; Korean: yeongji, hangul: 영지) is the name for one form of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, and its close relative Ganoderma tsugae. Ganoderma lucidum enjoys special veneration in Asia, where it has been used as a medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest mushrooms known to have been used in medicine.
Lingzhi may possess anti-tumor, immunomodulatory and immunotherapeutic activities, supported by studies on polysaccharides, terpenes, and other bioactive compounds isolated from fruiting bodies and mycelia of this fungus (reviewed by R. R. Paterson[4] and Lindequist et al.[7]). It has also been found to inhibit platelet aggregation, and to lower blood pressure (via inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme[8]), cholesterol and blood sugar.[9]
Laboratory studies have shown anti-neoplastic effects of fungal extracts or isolated compounds against some types of cancer. In an animal model, Ganoderma has been reported to prevent cancer metastasis,[10] with potency comparable to Lentinan from Shiitake mushrooms.[11]
The mechanisms by which G. lucidum may affect cancer are unknown and they may target different stages of cancer development: inhibition of angiogenesis (formation of new, tumor-induced blood vessels, created to supply nutrients to the tumor) mediated by cytokines, cytoxicity, inhibiting migration of the cancer cells and metastasis, and inducing and enhancing apoptosis of tumor cells
The Vitamin D Research Library is open for your learning pleasure
"Do Your Vitamin D Research Here
Links to all the Latest Research Studies
Welcome to the Vitamin D Research Library.
Here you'll find links to all of the latest Vitamin D Facts and Research studies, clinical trials and other scholarly Vitamin D Facts. The Research Library is Open 24/7 and is always growing. I'll be adding more and more links all of the time.
Can't find what you are looking for or just don't want to spend the time doing the research yourself? Chances are, I've already done the Vitamin D Research myself and can answer your question.
Read Frequently Asked Questions about Vitamin D
OR
Ask Your Question About Vitamin D Here
and I'll answer your Question about Vitamin D Personally based on the best available Vitamin D Research."
The Vitamin D Research Library is open for your learning pleasure - section 8
"Do Your Vitamin D Research Here
Links to all the Latest Research Studies
Welcome to the Vitamin D Research Library.
Here you'll find links to all of the latest Vitamin D Facts and Research studies, clinical trials and other scholarly Vitamin D Facts. The Research Library is Open 24/7 and is always growing. I'll be adding more and more links all of the time.
Can't find what you are looking for or just don't want to spend the time doing the research yourself? Chances are, I've already done the Vitamin D Research myself and can answer your question."
Know the Vitamin D facts. Your Health Depends Upon It
"Vitamin D facts are not well known - even though this fat soluble vitamin is essential to our good health. As more and more Vitamin D facts are being discovered in Vitamin D research, this vitamin is being found to be IMPERATIVE to our good health in many different ways."
Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications for health and disease. - Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug (full text PDF)
Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications for health and disease.
Kidd P.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug;8(3):223-46. Review.
PMID: 12946237
Th1 pathways typically produce activation of cytotoxic T
lymphocytes (Tc), NK cells, macrophages, and monocytes, all of
which can attack cancer cells and generally defend against tumors.
55 IFN-gamma and other Th1 cytokines are typically lower in
advanced cancer patients, while the Th2 marker IL-4 can be higher
or unchanged.56 Nodules of non-small cell lung cancer freshly
removed from patients expressed a marked imbalance toward Th2, as
did biopsy samples from basal cell carcinoma.57 In prostate cancer
patients IL-2 was low (Th1) and IL-10 high.58 IL-10 is a confirmed
Th1-suppressive cytokine, and heightened IL-10 is a common factor
in cancer.55
IL-10 has a variety of suppressive effects that include inhibiting
Th1 cytokine production, down-regulating APC and NK cell function,
and lowering overall T-cell proliferation.57 Especially under the
influence of IL-4 (Th2), tumor cells apparently up-regulate IL-10
that suppresses nearby killer cells. Tumor-derived IL-10 has been
documented in lymphoma, ovarian carcinoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma,
and renal cell and colon carcinoma.57 IL-12 is another cytokine
that can be up-regulated by Th1 activity and inhibited by Th2.59 A
low IL-12/IL-10 ratio was found in cervical cancer patients.55
Recent clinical studies suggest elevated IL-10 is predictive of a
poor prognosis. 57 With both IL-4 and IL-10 being proven inhibitors
of Th1 and promoters of Th2 activity, the recognized capability of
cancerous tissue to suppress immunity is readily rationalized.
Cathelicidin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide is a family of polypeptides found in lysosomes in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs).[1]
Members of the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial polypeptides are characterized by a highly conserved region (cathelin domain) and a highly variable cathelicidin peptide domain. Cathelicidin peptides have been isolated from many different species of mammals. Cathelicidins were originally found in neutrophils but have since been found in many other cells including epithelial cells and macrophages activated by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or the hormone 1,25-D"
Vitamin D Deficiency Lead to Disease - Dr. Weil's Weekly Bulletin
"If you're running low on vitamin D - as an estimated 70 percent of the U.S. population is - your immune system may not be functioning as well as it should. As a result, you may be more vulnerable to infectious diseases than you would if your vitamin D levels were optimal. Worse, you could be at higher than normal risk of a long list of diseases including heart disease and several kinds of cancer. A report recently published journal, Future Microbiology, highlighted research at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, which has shown that vitamin D induces expression of an antimicrobial peptide gene called cathelicidin that is the "first line of defense" in the immune system's response to minor wounds, cuts and bacterial and viral infections. The regulation of cathelicidin by vitamin D could help explain its vital role in immune function. The report noted that vitamin D is a key cofactor in reducing inflammation, in blood pressure control and helping to protect against heart disease. Author Adrian Gombart explains that there is still much to explore about D's mechanisms of action, the potential use of synthetic analogs of it in new treatments, and its duty in fighting infection."
The effects of conjugated linoleic acid on human health-related outcomes
The effects of conjugated linoleic acid on human health-related outcomes.
Tricon S, Burdge GC, Williams CM, Calder PC, Yaqoob P.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2005 May;64(2):171-82. Review.
PMID: 15960862
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term for a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of conjugated dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid. CLA has received considerable attention as a result of animal experiments that report anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherogenic and anti-diabetic properties, and modulation of body composition and immune function. Several studies of CLA supplementation in human subjects have now been published, but in contrast to animal studies there has been marked variation between reports on the health-related outcomes. The consensus from seventeen published studies in human subjects is that CLA does not affect body weight or body composition. Some detrimental effects of the trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomer have also been reported in terms of altered blood lipid composition and impaired insulin sensitivity. Finally, CLA has only limited effects on immune functions in man. However, there have been reports of some interesting isomer-specific effects of CLA on the blood lipid profile, but not on immune function. These isomer-specific effects need further investigation. Until more is known, CLA supplementation in man should be considered with caution.
NephroPal: Vitamin D - summary of actions
"Below is a list of summary of actions of Vitamin D (Hormone D)"
Swine Flu Fish Oil Warning - healthyfellow.com
"I know what you may be thinking: “Fish oil?! I thought fish oil was supposed to be healthy! One day you say we should take it, now you’re saying it puts us at risk for Swine Flu?” Well, there is a reasonable answer, but it doesn’t come in the form of a simple “fish oil is good” or “fish oil is bad” kind of package. The truth is that eating fish and taking fish oil is very often extremely beneficial for a great number of health conditions. But there is no substance on Earth that is 100% healthy under every conceivable circumstance. Take water, for example. Drinking plenty of pure water is a healthful practice. On the other hand, drinking excessive amounts (water intoxication) can lead to serious bodily damage and even death.
The August issue of the Journal of Nutrition reports on a study conducted on two groups of mice fed either a fish oil or corn oil enriched diet. (4) All the mice were infected with the flu virus and were then examined over a two week period. Several interesting observations were made at the conclusion of the trial:
* The mice receiving the fish oil exhibited lower levels of lung tissue inflammation. This confirms the known anti-inflammatory activity of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.
* However, these same mice suffered a “40% higher mortality rate”, a “70% higher lung viral load” and “a prolonged recovery period following infection”.
* The researchers also noted a decline in NK (natural killer) cells in the spleens of the mice that were fed fish oil and a decrease in CD8+ T cells. NK cells and cytotoxic T cells are vital players in the body’s ability to deal with infections."
PaNu - PāNu Blog - H1N1, Vitamin D3 and Innate Immunity
"I recently received an email from the Vitamin D Council regarding recent evidence that having adequate serum Vitamin D levels could be very important to avoiding illness from the H1N1 (swine) flu that is making the rounds. That will seem intuitive to those of you who read my earlier post about D, but it’s good to see some real evidence. Some of you may have seen this information already on other blogs, including Richard’s, but I have some new information and some comments to add."
Coeliac bone loss link uncovered - BBC NEWS | Health
"People with coeliac disease may be more susceptible to osteoporosis because their own immune system attacks their bone tissue, a study suggests.
Osteoporosis is a known risk of coeliac disease and has been explained by a failure to absorb calcium or vitamin D. "
Sixty million years of evolution says vitamin D may save your life from swine flu by Mike Adams the Health Ranger
"(NaturalNews) People still don't get it: Vitamin D is the "miracle nutrient" that activates your immune system to defend you against invading microorganisms -- including seasonal flu and swine flu. Two months ago, an important study was published by researchers at Oregon State University. This study reveals something startling: Vitamin D is so crucial to the functioning of your immune system that the ability of vitamin D to boost immune function and destroy invading microorganisms has been conserved in the genome for over 60 million years of evolution.
As this press release from Oregon State University (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea...) explains:
The fact that this vitamin-D mediated immune response has been retained through millions of years of evolutionary selection, and is still found in species ranging from squirrel monkeys to baboons and humans, suggests that it must be critical to their survival, researchers say.
"The existence and importance of this part of our immune response makes it clear that humans and other primates need to maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D," said Adrian Gombart, an associate professor of biochemistry and a principal investigator with the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University."
Fish Oil-Fed Mice Have Impaired Resistance to Influenza Infection -- Schwerbrock et al. 139 (8): 1588 -- Journal of Nutrition
Fish oil-fed mice have impaired resistance to influenza infection.
Schwerbrock NM, Karlsson EA, Shi Q, Sheridan PA, Beck MA.
J Nutr. 2009 Aug;139(8):1588-94. Epub 2009 Jun 23.
PMID: 19549756
doi:10.3945/jn.109.108027
These results suggest that the antiinflammatory properties of fish oil feeding can alter the immune response to influenza infection, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality
Their immune cells, fighting your cancer
IMMUNE cells from “cancer-resistant” people are to be injected into those with cancer to help fight the disease. Zheng Cui at Wake Forest University of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and his colleagues have received permission from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen people for their ability to ward off cancer. Immune cells from the best cancer fighters will be given to cancer patients, after being matched for blood type. All of us have some ability to fight cancer, via immune cells called NK cells which can identify and kill tumour cells, although the extent of these cells’ influence is not known. But Cui has now discovered that a much larger population of immune cells called granulocytes can also kill cancer and that the effectiveness of these cells varies from person to person.
Cui took blood samples from more than 100 people and mixed their granulocytes with cervical cancer cells. While granulocytes from one individual killed around 97 per cent of cancer cells within 24 hours, those from another healthy individual only killed around 2 per cent of cancer cells. Average cancer-killing ability appeared to be lower in adults over the age of 50 and even lower in people with cancer. It also fell when people were stressed, and at certain times of the year. “Nobody seems to have any cancer-killing ability during the winter months from November to April,” says Cui, who presented preliminary results at the Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence meeting in Cambridge, UK, earlier this month.
Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatic diseases -- Cutolo 48 (3): 210 -- Rheumatology
Vitamin D and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
Cutolo M.
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Mar;48(3):210-2. Epub 2008 Oct 17.
PMID: 18930963
doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken394
Vitamin D and Its Role in Cancer and Immunity: A Prescription for Sunlight -- Mullin and Dobs 22 (3): 305 -- Nutrition in Clinical Practice
Vitamin d and its role in cancer and immunity: a prescription for sunlight.
Mullin GE, Dobs A.
Nutr Clin Pract. 2007 Jun;22(3):305-22. Review.
PMID: 17507731
DOI: 10.1177/0115426507022003305
Whole Health Source: Cancer and the Immune System
They found some important trends. Granulocytes from people over 50 years old had a reduced ability to kill cancer cells, as did granulocytes from people with cancer. This raises the possibility that cancer is not simply the result of getting too old, but a very specific weakening of the immune system.
The most important finding, however, was that the granulocytes' kung-fu grip declined dramatically during the winter months. Here's Dr. Cui:
Nobody seems to have any cancer-killing ability during the
winter months from November to April.
Vitamin D treatment in multiple sclerosis - ScienceDirect - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Vitamin D treatment in multiple sclerosis.
Myhr KM.
J Neurol Sci. 2009 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19549608
doi:10.1016/j.jns.2009.05.002
Epidemiological evidence combined with clinical and laboratory analyses, and experimental animal models, suggest a possible influence of vitamin D on MS susceptibility as well as clinical disease activity.
Supplement with vitamin D may reduce the risk of developing MS. An intervention may also reduce the risk of conversion from a first clinical event suggestive of MS to clinical definite MS, as well as reduce the relapse rate among patients with relapsing remitting MS. More studies are, however, needed to determine optimal dose and serum level for vitamin D, as well as target populations and optimal timing for intervention.
Oral vitamin D may help prevent some skin infections
October 6th, 2008
A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggests that use of oral Vitamin D supplements bolsters production of a protective chemical normally found in the skin, and may help prevent skin infections that are a common result of atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.
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